Gyrating-pendulum escapement



- No. 626,807. Paten-ieu June I3, |899.

r. GuNnoPH. GYRATING PENDULUM ESCAPEMENT.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND GUNDORPH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GYRATlNG-PENDULUM ESCAPEM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,80*?,l dated June13, 18992 Application filed September 21J 1898. Serial No. 691,503. (N0model.)

To tt whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND GUNDORPII, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and StateofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGyrating- Pendulum Escapements, of which the following isaspecification.

My inventionrelates to an improved pendulum-escapement to governchronometrically a clock-movement or other similar mechanism 5 and thesame consists in certain novel parts and combination of parts, ashereinafter explained and pointed out, producing animprovedgoverningmechanism in which the pendulum is impelled continuously in onedirection and is detached or disconnected from the power in such manneras not to be affected in its motion by any irregularity in the motivepower or force.

The novel features of this improvement include a pendulum having agyrating movement without points of rest and van escapement by which themotive power is applied to the pendulum without being directly connectedto it.

The following description explains at length the nature of my saidimprovements and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply, andcarry out the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawi-ngs,forming part of this specification, in whichn Figure l represents inside elevation a pen- 4dulum-escapement for clocks embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front View taken from the left-hand side of Fig.l. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the upper part of the mechanism withthe pendulum-rod cut off at wx, Fig.

l. Fig. a illustrates the position of the parts at one point in theVmovement of the pendulum. Figs. 5 and G are details of the oscillatinglever that gives motion to the pendulum and the spindle connecting thelever with the power pinion. Fig. 7 illustrates a construction of weightand carrier in which two balls are employed in place of a single ball.

A indicates a bracket fixed to a stationary support X and standing outfrom that support in a horizontal plane.

A is an arm beneath the bracket A, to the under side of which it issecured by screws ct. On this bracket is mounted a pinion P, to

which the motive force or power is applied. From the under side of thesame piece is suspended the pivot on which the pendulum swings. i v

'C is the pendulum-rod, and C' the weight or bob on the lower end.

D is a head or fitting on the upper end of rod C, having a broad topflange with a segmental recess or opening d, into which the end of thearm A extends from one side. C2 is a conical 'pin fixed in the end ofthat arm and having its point coinciding with the longitudinal centerline of the pendulum-rod.

B isa disk or circular plate fixed on the top of the head D' by screws bin such position thatithe center of the disk is coincidentwith thelongitudinal axisof the pendulum-rod and the top face of the disk is atright angles to that axis. A jeweled bearing hfor the point of the pinC2 is fixed in the center of the disk B, andthe recess in the fitting Dis of proper dimensions to admit the arm A and allowr clearance' for thependulum to swing without striking the arm. On this pivot the disk Bthus mounted is free to tilt or move in any direction out of ahorizontal position under any disturbing force that is sufficient tothrow the pendulum beyond the center of gravity.

E is a spindle orarbor supportedin upright position in bearings d5 a torotate directly over and in line with the center on which the pendulumis suspended. The pinion P, fast on this spindle, forms the mediumthrough which in turn the governing forcel of the pendulum is applied.On the lower end of this spindle is fixed a sleeve F, having on thelower end a fork F', between the arms of which a rod G is pivoted tooscillate freely in avertical arc. H is a weight on one arm or member ofthis rod, and K is a counterweight on the opposite arm. This rod,forming the carrier of the weight II, is loosely hung on the centerF',so that the weight rests at all times upon the degree of thisdeflection is determined and regulated both by the mass of the weight Hand its distance radially from the center of IOO oscillation of thecarrier. By the revolutions of this carrier around the center F underthe motive force applied to the spindle the weight li travels around thesurface of the disk ina circular path, and the resultant movement of thelower end of the pendulum-rod is a continuous circular one. The weight His best formed of a spherical ball loosely mounted on the carrier G, soas to rotate freely by frictional contact with the surface ofthe disk.In

' the slight modification represented in Fig. 7

two balls are mounted to rotate freely on pins or axles in place of asingle ball. rihis construction has the advantage of producing bearingsfor the balls with a small-amount of frictional surface. Thecounter-weight K employed to regulate the amount or degree of pressureof the ball H and the consequent deflection of the disk is movable onthe carrier Gand is fixed at the required point beyond the pivot by aset-screw It.

L L L are stop-pins fixed in the plate A, from the under side of whichthey project or extend downward at points equidistant from the centerand from one another around a circle that is concentric with the disk .Bof the pendulum and in the circular path described by the end of the rodor carrier G when that part stands horizontally. lVhen thus placed, thestop-pins intercept and arrest the movement of the rod in itsrevolutions about the center and they are made of such length that inthe horizontal position of the disk B the outer end of the rod liesagainst the pin, and in the movement of that end in a circle, asproduced by the motive force, the rod is arrested momentarily until theangular deflection of the disk B under the force of gravitation actingupon the weight H allows the end of the rod to slip off and pass underthe point of the stop-pin. ln this manner the weight released at eachstop-pin is caused to move forward at definite points in the circle,which points are controlled and regulated by the movement ef the disk.The stop-pins are adjustable perpendicularly in the piate for thepurpose of regulating their length or the amount of their projectionbelow the line of the weight-carrying rod when that part standshorizontally.

As thus constructed and combined for operation the pendulum is moved andcaused to swing entirely by the force of gravitation acting upon theweight traveling on the disk, and a uniform movement of the pendulum isproduced and maintained irrespective of any irregularity in the motiveforce. Any variation in such force or power, while it may cause theweight to travel on the disk from one stop-pin to the next with greateror less irregularity of motion, will simply cause the weight-carrier tostrike the stoppin with greater or less force without disturbing oraffecting the regular movement of the pendulum. This movement of thependulum also when it is started in its gyrations is a continuous one,without points of rest or culminating points, as in the case of allpendulums that have a simple oscillating movement, and by virtue of thispeculiar gyrating motion maintained without being directly connected toor with the motive force the pendulum absolutely determines the momentof escape of the weight at each stop-pin, and thus accurately controlsand regulates the intervals of rest or momentary stops in the forwardmotion of the weight-carrier. These jumps or intervals will be indicatedby the secondshand, with which the pinion P would be connected in theclock-movement, and the number of such impulses required to cause thehand to stop momentarily at given points on the dial to indicate thedivisions of a second are regulated by the number of stop-pins Lemployed. These in any case cannot be less than three, as that number isrequired to produce the movement of the pendulum-weight in a true circlearound the point of suspension.

A spiral spring S, connected at one end to the pendulum-rod by a collarS and at the other end to a fixed point above, such as to the supportA', acts to hold the disk B in position with relation to the support onwhich it is suspended and without interfering with or disturbing thecontinuous movement 4of the pendulum in a true circle, thus keeping thependulum on the part D from making contact with the support A" while inmotion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a gravity-escapement the combination, with the power shaft orspindle, of a disk balanced and free to move on a central pivot, havingits center of gravi-ty located at a distance below the pivot; anoscillating carrier connected with the power-shaft to travel in a circleunder thev rotation of said shaft and having movement in a vertical arc;a weight on the said carrier adapted to travel ou the surface of thedisk; and stop-pins located at intervals of distance apart in a circleand in the path of the weight-carrier in its revolution.

2. In a gravity-escapement, a balanced disk pivotally mounted to move inany direction out of a horizontal plane and having its center of gravitylocated below its supportingpivot; an oscillating carrier capable oftrav-. cling in a circle over the said disk; a weightv on said carrieradapted to make contact with the surface of the disk and by the force ofgravitation to deflect the disk; a counterweight on the carrier; and thestop-pins asa means of intermittently arresting the travel of saidcarrier.

3. The combination, with the disk pivotally mounted and balanced on acenter support, and having its center of gravity located below saidsupport; of the traveling carrier movable in a circle above the surfaceof said disk and also movable in avertical arc whose the disk; a weightadapted by contact with IOO pivotally mounted and balanced on a centralpivot under said rod having` its center o f 15 gravity located belowsaid pivot; and the stoppins standingin the path of the Weight-carryingrod and adapted by their position to intermittently arrest the travel ofsaid rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I zo have hereunto set my handand seal.

FERDINAND GUNDORIH. [L s] Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, E. H. THARP.

